How to Fish for Cohos With a Shore Cast

Coho Salmon are found natively along the northern Pacific Ocean and as far south as the middle of California. When in the ocean, coho are a silvery color, but when they travel into freshwater rivers for spawning, their skin turns bright orange-red. In addition to the color change, coho males develop a hooked bottom lip and large teeth. Though spawning coho have no need or desire to eat, they are easily angered into biting a hook.

Things You'll Need

  • Bobber stop
  • Fishing pole
  • Bead
  • Slip bobber or float
  • Power swivel
  • Leader
  • Coho jig or lure
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Instructions

  1. Rigging Your Line

    • 1

      Slide a bobber stop, a small knotted thread wrapped around a small plastic tube, onto your fishing line about 3 feet from the end of the line. Pull the thread off the plastic tube and remove the tube from the fishing line, as you used it only to thread the bobber stop onto the line. Tighten the knot by pulling the loose ends of the thread in opposite directions; this will stop your bobber from moving any higher on the fishing line.

    • 2

      Slide a bobber stop bead onto the fishing line directly below the bobber stop, which will prevent the bobber from getting past the bobber stop.

    • 3

      Slide a slip bobber, or float, onto your fishing line; the bobber should move freely on the line but not move past the bobber stop bead. Tie a swivel, a metal piece that twists in the middle and has a loop on each side, to the end of your fishing line.

    • 4

      Tie a 2- to 3-foot piece of loose fishing line to the opposite end of the swivel. Tie the loose end of the line to a coho jig or lure. Check with local fishing stores to find out what the coho are biting on currently. Focus more on jigs and lures that are shiny and will anger the coho, if you are fishing during the fall run when the coho travel upstream to spawn; coho aren't interested in eating during this time.

    • 5

      Slide your bobber stop up or down on the fishing line to adjust the depth of your jig in the water, if necessary.

    Casting From the Shore

    • 6

      Situate yourself on the bank of a river where coho salmon have recently been spotted or caught. Coho generally arrive in rivers during the late-summer to early winter, when they migrate to spawn, though the exact time frame depends on the area you are fishing. Cast your line in the morning hours for a better chance at hooking a coho.

    • 7

      Cast your line into the river straight in front of you. Wait for the bobber to slightly twitch, indicating the jig is in place and the line is fully extended. Pull your rod straight up to set the hook if you feel any unusual movement, often indicating a fish is on the line.

    • 8

      Reel up any slack and lightly jerk the rod toward you, pulling the bobber in before letting it sit again. Reel up the slack and lightly jerk the rod toward you again. Repeat this process of reeling and letting it settle until the line reaches the shore. Cast it back out again until you catch a coho salmon.